Hennepin County interviews for openings on Minnehaha Creek Watershed board

Hennepin County commissioners interviewed applicants for Minnehaha Creek Watershed District’s board Tuesday, and are expected to appoint two board members March 17 from the 11 applicants.

The Watershed District’s leadership has been embroiled in controversy since abruptly firing its top leader in a split vote last April, with some people calling for an ousting of two incumbents and spurring more people to apply for the openings, Sherry White’s and Jeff Casale’s positions. By comparison, in the past three years, open board spots have drawn three to four applicants each year, according to the county.

The district — one of the largest financially in Minnesota — manages everything from flooding to the spread of invasive species in parts of 27 cities and is governed by a seven-manager board, six of whom are appointed by Hennepin County and one by Carver County. They receive $75 per meeting.